ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) The connection Rory McIlroy had with Arnold Palmer was strong even before he delivered a Sunday charge that would have made the King proud.

McIlroy first played the Arnold Palmer Invitational three years ago, and Palmer teared up at dinner when he asked McIlroy if there was anything he needed and received this reply: "Mr. Palmer, thanks to you, I have everything I could ever need in my life."

McIlroy's last victory was at the Tour Championship on Sept. 25, 2016, the day Palmer died.